An ongoing investigation by the Greene County Drug Task Force yielded evidence on two individuals suspected of dealing methamphetamine and an LPD officer reported they were both arrested over the weekend. Bond for one suspect has been set at $50,000 cash only and bond for the other suspect has been set at $30,000 cash only.

Steven Jarett Wayne Gibson 2021-02-08.jpg — Steven Jarrett Wayne Gibson, mug shot from February 2021

Steven Jarrett Wayne Gibson, 31, and Shainia Meshell Richardson, 24, both from Linton, were arrested by Officer Adam King of the Linton Police Department early last Sunday, May 9, following incidents that occurred on Saturday, May 8. Richardson was booked into the Greene County Jail at 12:10 a.m., Gibson at 2:10 a.m.

These arrests came about as a result of an ongoing investigation by personnel with the Greene County Drug Task Force into Richardson’s activities – she was suspected of the illegal distribution of narcotics.

Over time, officers from the Task Force developed evidence that Richardson had arranged to buy methamphetamine that was “pure and uncut” from Gibson and that she had arranged to then sell the methamphetamine to another individual.

Officers say last Saturday, May 8, the individual gave $200 to Richardson at her residence on Glenburn Road in Linton to fund the purchase and then Richardson left her residence in a dark blue 2012 Dodge Avenger, with one passenger on board, and went to Gibson’s apartment residence on 3rd Street NW in Linton to obtain the meth.

Richardson was under surveillance at the time of these alleged transactions and according to Officer King, when Richardson left Gibson’s residence, officers conducted a traffic stop on her vehicle in the area of H Street NE and 2nd Street NE.

When officers asked for permission to search Richardson’s vehicle, she gave her consent but they did not find the methamphetamine they believed she had just purchased from Gibson. However, Richardson and her passenger were detained and transported to the police department for interviews.

During questioning, Richardson’s passenger allegedly confirmed they went to Gibson’s but said the two women stayed in Richardson’s vehicle and Gibson came out to the vehicle. The passenger allegedly said she saw Richardson take money from her bra and give it to Gibson and in return, Gibson handed a bag to Richardson that contained a white bag and a yellow bag which Richardson placed somewhere on her body.

When Richardson was questioned, she allegedly admitted she did have the narcotics on her person. After she retrieved the item, officers estimated the amount of methamphetamine in the bags weighed approximately one-eighth ounce.

Richardson was arrested.

Given this information and the circumstances, a search warrant was obtained for Gibson’s apartment. Officer King reported that when the warrant was executed, officers found several plastic bags containing crystalized substances and when they tested one of the bags, it field-tested positive as methamphetamine. The amount of meth in that bag weighed 3.6 grams. They also located digital scales with white residue that field-tested positive for meth as well as plastic bags believed to be used for packaging and distributing meth as well as several other items of paraphernalia.

Gibson was arrested.

Both were first held without bond pending court appearance.

Gibson has been charged with:

Dealing in methamphetamine in an amount between one and five grams, a Level 4 felony,
Dealing in methamphetamine in an amount between one and five grams, a Level 4 felony, and
Possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony.

Richardson has been charged with: